Mullingar businessman Thomas Flynn has lodged a planning application with Westmeath Co Council to build a 5MW solar farm at Newdown, The Downs, Mullingar.

If planning goes ahead, the solar farm would be located close to Flynn’s anaerobic digestion plant, which building is soon to begin on.

The planned solar farm would be a 9.3ha site consisting of around 20,000 ground mounted photovoltaic panels. The site would also feature five transformer stations, security fencing on the perimeter, CCTV and an access road. The power generated from the plant would supply electricity to 6,000 homes in the local area.

Previous models

The planned site would be similar to the Aldergrove solar farm in Belfast in that the site would still be used for grazing animals.

The farm is designed by architects Ramon Nepomuceno and a planning decision is due by 19 September, with submissions accepted until 29 August.

Switching to sustainable energy

Ireland is currently looking to produce more renewable energy over the coming years in order to meet the European Union’s 2020 energy targets.

As it stands, Ireland is not on track to meeting its individual targets, which could result in heavy fines and a limit on the country’s green energy imports.

Thomas Flynn

The man behind the new solar farm is Mullingar businessman, Thomas Flynn.

Thomas is a well know figure in the business industry in the Midlands and has amassed a wide variety of agri-businesses in the local area.

His business include Flynn Farm Machinery, Flynn Feeds, Flynn's Farm Shop and Flynns Fuels.

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